GMO, organics, and how to eat better with Clif

I find that my levels of eating-healthy vary depending on the time of the year. When fresh vegetables are growing in my garden, or our Farmer’s Market is lined with crates of fresh apples, I’m suddenly so much more aware of where my food comes from.

During the winter months we tend to fall into slumps where those things get passed by the wayside. It’s during these cold months that we rely solely on the grocery store to keep our kitchens stocked. The truth of the matter is, no matter where you are on your clean-eating journey, the grocery store can be a daunting place.

Even the most aware consumers can get overwhelmed with all of the labels you’ll find on the shelves. There are a lot of buzzwords being thrown around these days! Now, more than ever, it’s important to find companies who value ingredients as much as we do. With Clif Bar, you don’t have to worry about what you’re eating because their foods are certified USDA organic and non-GMO. Even more importantly, though, Clif has dedicated a lot of time and energy into making sure that consumers are aware of what they’re eating!

The athletes and foodies in the Clif kitchen have crafted a whole new kind of energy bar. Nut Butter Filled Bar brings together two great energy foods – a delicious, creamy nut butter inside an organic energy bar – to deliver sustained energy.

USDA Organic

Non-GMO

Made with delicious, creamy peanut, hazelnut or almond butters

7 grams (9% DV) of plant-based protein

Low glycemic

To help clear up any confusion about just what the difference is between nonGMO foods and organic, they’ve enlisted the help of Kate Geagan, MS, RD. Read on to see her advice!

Kate is an award-winning dietitian and “America’s Green Nutritionist,” who has helped millions fall in love with food that powers a vibrant, high energy life. She is an internationally known author, speaker, consultant and nutrition communications expert, as well as a spokesperson for several global brands in the organic and natural space. Called “a global thought leader in her field” by Discovery Health of South Africa, Kate is helping lead a national conversation which champions cleaner food choices to support a thriving body and planet. She is the author of Go Green Get Lean: Trim Your Waistline with the Ultimate Low- Carbon Footprint Diet.

What are GMOs?

GMOs are organisms—including plants and vegetables—that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. That’s not Mother Nature at work. Those are lab experiments creating combinations of genes that can’t occur in nature or be bred via traditional plant breeding. Some GMO corn and soybean varieties, for example, have had their DNA altered to make them resistant to chemical herbicides or to produce their own pesticides.

Where do GMOs show up in food?

There are actually just a handful of GMO crops, but it’s estimated they are present in approximately 70 percent of processed foods in supermarkets.1 GMOs are a recent experiment. The first commercial sale of genetically engineered food dates back only to 1994. At least 26 countries worldwide2 totally or partially ban GMOs, and more than 60 countries require GMO labeling.3

Why avoid them?

Studies show that GMO crops lead to the increased use of toxic chemicals, herbicides and pesticides in conventional farming, elevating the risk of toxin exposure to the general public and especially farming communities.4 Toxic pesticides and chemicals have been linked to birth defects, nerve damage and cancer,5 with children and pregnant women most at risk. Toxic chemicals also pollute our waterways, oceans and air. Clearly, that toxic cycle of agriculture can’t go on indefinitely. It’s unsustainable. GMOs are simply the latest Band-Aid on a broken system—a faulty tool in the conventional, chemically-dependent farming system. We can and must do better—and the major growth in organic food purchases by consumers is just one example that we are beginning to head in the right direction. The truth is, unless you’ve dedicated years of your life to studying these things, it’s really tough for the average consumer to know everything there is to know about where our food is coming from.

As busy moms who already have our hands full, it’s nice to know that there are companies out there who are taking the time to help us learn these things so we can make the best decisions for our families! Want to learn more about Non GMO? Check out their site!

About Aubrey

My name is Aubrey and I am a proud wife and mother three. The combination of buying our home (as in, we have our own yard!) and our second baby (as in, homemade baby food!) created a catalyst that provoked my interest in gardening. In researching this hobby I came across information that really made me question mainstream food. The chemicals and preservatives alone made the mother in me cringe, not to mention what the chef in me thought about the difference in taste. Please join me and my family as we discover recipes and explore the outdoors in our attempt to reconnect with nature.

My name is Aubrey and I am a proud wife and mother to three. When I started my small garden a few years ago it served as a catalyst for changing the way we live: Eating fresh, playing in the dirt, and doing crafts and DIYs that are inspired by nature. We may not be perfect, but we do the best we can. Please join me and my family as we discover recipes and explore the outdoors in our attempt to reconnect with nature. Learn More ››

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Please join me and my family as we discover recipes and explore the outdoors in our attempt to reconnect with nature. Learn More →